What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is defined as an inflammatory bowel disease, a life-long condition which causes inflammation in parts of the digestive system. The colon (large intestine) and the ileum (the small intestine’s final compartment) tend to be the most commonly affected areas.

Although Crohn’s disease can occur at any age and can affect anyone, it usually presents between the ages of 15 and 40.

Crohn’s symptoms differ from case to case and can significantly change over a period of time. Symptoms can vary in intensity and can develop suddenly or slowly, or they may disappear and then come back – this is called a flare-up or relapse. The periods between flare-ups are defined as ‘remission’.

 

Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with Crohn’s include:

  • diarrhoea
  • abdominal aches and cramping
  • blood in stool
  • fatigue (tiredness)
  • reduced appetite and/or unexplained weight loss

 

People with Crohn’s disease may also experience:

  • feeling feverish or running a temperature
  • nausea or vomiting
  • sore eyes
  • painful joints

 

Diagnosis

Your GP will initially check for bowel inflammation by examining your abdomen, then taking blood samples and stool samples.

Crohn’s disease is known to share its symptoms with other conditions which can often make it difficult to determine and diagnose. To confirm a diagnosis, your GP may refer you to a digestive system specialist doctor – a Gastroenterologist, for further investigation.

Your consultant may recommend that you have:

  • an MRI or CT scan.
  • a Colonoscopy – internal insertion of a flexible tube with a camera attached to check for bowel inflammation. Also known as lower GI endoscopy

 

Treatment

While there is no known cure for Crohn’s disease, certain treatments can help to control or reduce some of the symptoms and put you in remission.

The main treatments include:

  • steroid medication to reduce and control inflammation
  • medication or injections to prevent the inflammation from reoccurring
  • surgery to remove a small part of the affected digestive system